Spark-plug tester



May 92 w. s. WILLIAMS SPARK FLUG TESTER Filed Oct. '7, 1924 Patented May 17, 1921' "UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. WILLIAMS, OF KINGWOOD, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO ARTHUR GRIBBLE, KINGWQOD, WEST VIRGINIA.

SPARK-PLUG TESTER.

This invention relates to an improved device, which may well be designated a spark plug tester.

The invention has reference ,to a device of this class, which 18 either portable or fixedly mounted on the instrument or dash the device being.

board of an automobile, constructed in a manner to permit an accurate test of the plug to be made, while the engine is running.

One feature of the invention is the pro vision of a unit composed of a plurality of conventional plug testers, this unit being slidably and removably mounted in an appropriate casing, so that it can be moved at. will to a position to permit the current to pass successively through the tester, and to permit the test to be made while the engine is under stress.

Another feature of the invention is to utilize in connection with this removable and slidable tester unit, a manually rotated cam or eccentric which serves to slide the unit in a direcgion to make the test or to. move the eccentric to a position to permit the unit to move in an opposite direction, under the action of the springs, to render the device ineffective.

A further feature of the invention is the embodiment in the structure of a plurality of sleeves of insulation material, in which contacts are adjustably and slidably mounted in the position to co-act with contacts on the aforesaid tester, justable contacts being equipped with individual wires, to lead to and be connected with the plugs, adapting the device for individual or public garage use.

Other features and advantages, of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, and partly in elevation, showin a spark plug tester constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2' is an edge elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation.

The device shown in the present application is especially adapted for a four cylinder automobile engine, but it is to be understood that it may well be varied to act in conjunction with engines having more or less cylinders.

movable f these ad-' In carrying out the invention, I employ four conventional spark plug testers 1.

These are of the elongated formation, and are provided at their reduced ends with suitably designed contacts 2. Between their ends they are provided with sight openings .3, for exposing a spark gap (not shown), which isdisposed within the structure. De vices similar to these are now marketed, and are used, and since the structure is-well known, a more detailed description is un-' necessary. As said, I use four of these testersl, and I combine them into a single unit, spacing the same apart by appropriate spacers Connected to the unit at one end is an arched bar 5,'and a pair of coil springs U are connected to this bar, and are anchored at their opposite ends in an elongated casing 7. The casing is of'any suitable design, and is shapedto accommodate the unit just described. It may, if desired, be provided with a cover 8, and the. cover in turn maybe provided with an elongated ex: posure slot 9, to permit the sight openings 3 to be seen therethrough. It is obvious that this tester unit is bodily slidable within the casing, and in order to operate it, I provide a disc 10, which is arranged for rotation in the chamber formed between the bar 5 and the adjacent end of the casing. This disc is provided with an elongated slot 11, and with a stop 12, for cooperation'with the complementallstop 13, on the casing, to limit.

against the bar 5, and will feed the tester units forwardly. The casing may be opened, adjacent. the contact carrying end of the tester, and in this open end, a plurality of sleeves 17, of appropriate insulation may be fitted- Adj ustably arranged in these sleeves are appropriate contact members 18, in the present instance of bifurcated formation. Arranged between thebifurcations is a bolt, the head of which is designated as.

19, and is arranged for cooperationwith the aforesaid contact 2. A conical nut 20 is threaded on the shank of the bolt and isarranged between the furcation of the contact member to force these into frictional contact with the cooperating sleeve, to anchor the contact member in place. One end of a conductor wire 21 is mounted, or otherwise connected with one of the furcations. Although I have not shown it, the opposite ends of these wires will be provided with clips or appropriatemeans, to permit them to be connected to the spark plugs of the cylinders.

In practice, thecasing may be mounted upon the instrument board, at a point to permit the. sight openings 3 to be readily viewed. If, at any time, engine trouble is experienced whilea run is being made, the spark plugs may be tested to ascertain whether or not thetrouble exists there. In making this test, the knobl? is depressed, and the. shaft 1 turned in a direction to more the eccentrically arranged disc in a manner to feed the testers longitudinally in the casing, bringing the contacts 2, with which they are equipped, into engagement with the bolt heads 19 ot the stationary contacts. Tie current will then pass through the device, and through the medium of thev sight opening, it can'be ascertained whether or not: the plugs are acting properly. Although I have shown the preferred and specific embodiment of the. invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details illustrated, for changes coming within the scope of the adj'oined claimsmay be resorted to, if desired.

I claim: 3; In a: spark plug testing device of the class describes, a casing of elongated form, said casing being substantially Hat and oblong incrosssection, a plurality of sleeves tied into one end of the casing, cont-acts a contact at one end cooperable with the adjacent one of the first named contacts, a sight opening for a spark gap, a transparent closure for the sight opening, means. connecting all. of saidtesters togetherto group them together forming said unit, and'means in such casing for slidingisaiduuit tolrender said testers'eflectlve.

2. In a spark plug testing device ofthe class described, 2LCaSll1g 0f QlOIIgZItGClfOIIH,

said casing being substantially flat and'oblong in cross section, a plurality of sleeves fitted into one end of the casing,.contacts arranged in said sleeves, conductor wires connected with said contacts, and a: plug testing unit slidably mounted in the'c'asing;

said unit being: made up-of a plurality of conventional selfcontained spark plug testers arranged in side by side abutting;

relation, each tester comprising. a body having a contact at one end cooperable with the-' ad acent one or the first named contacts,a-

sight opening for aspark gap,a transparent closure for the sight opening, means connectingv all of said testers together: to group them together for lIOlIIllllgSfllCl un1t,means insaid casing for sliding: said unit to render said testerseitective, said means comprising; an eccentric cooperable with said connecting means, operating. means for the eccentric,

and spring means connected with saidcas ingv and with'said unit for moving. the. unit in a direction to render itn'ormallyineflec tive.

In testimony whereof I aflix my ture.

WM, e. WILLIAMS;

signa 

